SAST-R · Compulsive Sexual Behaviour
SAST-R: Free Online Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Test
Sexual Compulsivity Self-Test
The SAST-R core scale - a 20-item yes/no screener for compulsive or addictive sexual behaviour. About 3 minutes.
Reviewed by Komel Kaur, psychotherapist and executive coach, M.A. Psychology
20
Questions
~3
Minutes
Free
Always
Question 1 of 20 · start here
Were you sexually abused as a child or adolescent?
Pick one and the rest of the SAST-R continues on the next screen. Free, no sign-up.
What the SAST-R measures
The Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST-R) was developed with hospitals, treatment programmes and private therapists to help distinguish compulsive sexual behaviour from behaviour that is simply high in frequency. This is the 20-item core scale. It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis, and nothing here is a moral judgement. Six or more "yes" answers is the point at which a proper conversation with a clinician is worth having.
How to read your SAST-R score
A score is a starting point, not a verdict. Here is what each band on the SAST-R usually means and what a reasonable next step looks like.
Below screening threshold
Your answers do not suggest a pattern of compulsive sexual behaviour. If something specific still bothers you, that is worth talking about regardless of the score.
Next step: If a particular worry brought you here
Some indicators present
Some of the indicators the SAST-R looks for are present, but you are below the usual screening threshold. Common patterns at this level are secrecy, escape, and failed attempts to cut back.
Next step: What therapy would look at here
Above screening threshold
Your score is at or above the SAST-R screening threshold of 6, which usually means a fuller assessment with a clinician is worthwhile. This is a screen, not a diagnosis, and this pattern responds well to structured treatment.
Next step: This is treatable, and it is not a character verdict
What happens after a high score
A high SAST-R score does not mean something is wrong with you, and it does not confirm a diagnosis. It means the pattern you are living with is measurable, and that a trained person can help you understand it properly.
In practice, the next step is usually a conversation: someone takes your history, rules out other causes (thyroid, sleep debt, medication, grief, life circumstance), and looks at how long this has been going on and how much it is costing you. From there you decide together whether therapy, a medical review, or simply structured support is the right fit.
If you want to bring your result to someone, you can email yourself a copy at the end of the test and book an online session with Komel. Sessions are 60 minutes on Google Meet, and you can also start with a shorter 30-minute intro consultation.
Instrument and source
This page administers the Sexual Compulsivity Self-Test (SAST-R) as published, without modification to item wording or scoring. It is reproduced here for education and self-screening, scored on your device, and reviewed by Komel Kaur, Psychotherapist.
Carnes P, Green B, Carnes S. The same yet different: refocusing the Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST) to reflect orientation and gender. Sex Addict Compulsivity. 2010;17(1):7-30.
Before you start
- · Find a quiet few minutes - answer honestly, not how you wish you felt.
- · There are no right or wrong answers. Pick what feels closest.
- · This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
- · If anything brings up something heavy, support is at the end.
Common questions about the SAST-R
What is the SAST-R test?
The SAST-R is a clinician-validated screening questionnaire that measures compulsive sexual behaviour. It has 20 questions and takes about 3 minutes to complete online, free.
Is the SAST-R a diagnosis?
No. The SAST-R is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test. A high score suggests it's worth talking to a qualified mental health professional; it doesn't confirm a condition on its own.
How long does the SAST-R take?
Most people finish the SAST-R in about 3 minutes. You get your results on screen immediately, and a copy by email if you'd like one.
Is this SAST-R test free and private?
Yes - it's completely free, no sign-up required to take it, and your answers are anonymous on screen. You only share an email if you want your results sent to you.
Reviewed by Komel Kaur, psychotherapist and executive coach, M.A. Psychology
Carnes P, Green B, Carnes S. The same yet different: refocusing the Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST) to reflect orientation and gender. Sex Addict Compulsivity. 2010;17(1):7-30.